From You
Letters
From You!
Just A Traffic Stop
originally published August 2, 2006
Ms. Davis’ letter [“Traffic Stop,” July 19] has made me wonder about the motivation behind some of the traffic tickets that my friends have received in the past.
I have one who got a ticket for speeding… he has a bumpersticker on his car that reads: “I Brake For Animals.” Maybe his ticketing officer didn’t like cats?
Another one was ticketed for having made an illegal turn. She has a bumpersticker that reads: “My Son Is An Honor Student.” Maybe the cop in her case didn’t much care for intelligent children.
It is bad that a person (Ms. Davis) that has received a Girl Scout Leader appreciation gift would jump to the conclusion that she was being harassed and intimidated by getting a ticket from the police. Just because Officer Beavers works for Athens-Clarke County, it does not make him a Bush fan (I do not know his political stance). I understand her being upset for getting the ticket, but that does not change the fact that it is not legal to have a license plate frame that covers the numbers of the tag decal.
It’s a rather sad state of affairs and more than ridiculous to read that this person decided to place the blame for their having violated a state traffic law, even if inadvertently, on the supposed prejudices of law enforcement over a citizen’s choice of the bumperstickers they choose to place on their car. What a wonderful example of acceptable social behavior, and concern for abiding by the law, to set for her own children. Ms. Davis should be embarrassed for having penned this particular letter to the editor, and owes Athens-Clarke County law enforcement an apology.
Go to court, have your say and in the end, you were still in the wrong.
R. Booth & A. Cejka AthensLetters
From You!
Renter Beware
originally published August 2, 2006
I love Athens. I especially enjoy being part of a community where so many businesses cater to and value students. There are some exceptions, though. Rental companies here seem particularly terrible. I am finally out of a lease with a particularly underhanded, yet oddly inept, management company here in town. Talking to people about my bad lease has taught me a few things:
- People who rent from individuals, rather than rental companies, seem to be more satisfied. It is not hard to imagine that one individual is much more accommodating than an office full of hourly workers. The Flagpole is a great place to find apartments that are managed by the property owner.
- You do need renter’s insurance. It isn’t very expensive, and it covers damage and theft of your stuff. You probably think, as I did, that it isn’t necessary. However, after having a busted pipe flood my living room twice and having a leasing agent leave the landlord’s copy of the key in my front door, I can honestly say renter’s insurance is worth having.
- If you do lease from a rental company, find out what its reputation is. Ask your friends about their leases, and check with the Better Business Bureau to see how they have handled complaints before. If they don’t respond to the BBB, then there are fewer options available to you if a problem arises.
- Read the contract. Your rights are rarely protected in a rental contract. In fact, you are waiving a lot of your rights when you sign it. When I had problems with my lease and I started looking at it more carefully, I found a lot of scary stuff. If you’re uncomfortable with it, don’t sign it. Go somewhere else or ask about making an amendment.
- The rental market is flooded here. There are plenty of choices, and many of them are available at reduced rates after the peak leasing time. Look around before you decide where you want to live, and ask if they are willing to take less than the published rental rate.
I hope this helps out some of the new people setting things up this week.
Beau Brouillette AthensLetters
From You!
Bus To Winterville?
originally published August 2, 2006
While all the hoopla over longer operating hours for The Bus goes on, I’d like to remind the Athens community that the bus does not run at all to the Winterville area. Spring Valley, Athena, Olympic Drive (our end of these streets), Coile Middle School and Winterville Elementary School have no bus service. I’m sure it would be nice for parents of kids at those schools who might otherwise use the bus (especially if they come to Coile from Fourth Street or Fowler Drive areas) to know they had a dependable method of transportation to their children’s school. We are a growing community (much to the dismay of some), we have a significant elderly population, and plenty of working people who would appreciate the service. We receive little benefit from the Athens-Clarke County government, in spite of the fact that we pay county property taxes. One good thing, soon we’ll have new representation on the commission, since neither Mr. Carter nor Mr. Chasteen will represent us. Hopefully, our new representatives will remember we’re here.
Vicki Hirsch-White WintervilleLetters
From You!
Unwelcome Center?
originally published August 2, 2006
A friend of mine was visiting me from out of town, and she asked where she might find some maps of downtown, some postcards, etc. I thought about this a moment, and figured the best place for such things might be the Athens Welcome Center - after all, I assumed, they conduct tours of the city, greet all of the out-of-town business people, and certainly should be able to have what we were looking for.
We went to the welcome center at about 11 a.m. that morning, and I must tell you that I was shocked and disappointed about the way we were treated upon entering the lobby. An older woman came to meet us, and demanded to know what we wanted. When I told her that we were interested in seeing the gift shop, she pulled down her glasses, gazed at me for a moment, then growled under her breath that it was around the back, before disappearing. When we found the gift shop, the aforementioned woman stared at us in silence, most likely convinced in her mind that we had come to steal or vandalize everything in sight (although we were far from being dressed as indie-rockers, as I had shaved and was wearing a dress shirt that morning). She seemed to be the only individual operating the center, which I found extremely curious, given the number of visitors we receive on a daily basis (especially this time of the year).
We were made to feel very uncomfortable inside the welcome center, and left without having accomplished anything. My assumption had been that the Athens Welcome Center should be staffed by friendly, knowledgeable personnel who offer a delightful welcome to our visitors - sadly, this woman’s attitude seemed to indicate that she was bothered by our visit. Had we been business people, coming into Athens for the first time with the intention of opening a business here, and entered the welcome center to obtain information for this purpose, I dare say we would have motored ourselves back to Atlanta in time for lunch. Likewise, had we been prospective students for UGA, we may easily have walked away with the assumption that Athens was far too inhospitable a place to spend four years and $50,000.
I firmly believe that if the city of Athens is truly as interested in attracting tourism, business and potential students to the University as it proudly claims to be, it should operate its welcome center accordingly. Furthermore, I would urge every reader to visit the welcome center at his or her leisure, and see exactly the kind of picture of our town that we are painting for our visitors.
Eric Windt AthensLetters
From You!
Welcome Center Response
originally published August 2, 2006
First of all, thank you, Mr. Windt, for visiting the Athens Welcome Center and bringing your out-of-town guest. Also, thank you for your constructive criticism, which I take very seriously. Here at the welcome center we take great pride in Athens, and we strive to share that enthusiasm with all visitors. We consider ourselves to be the front door to the community, and as the community’s ambassadors, we welcome all visitors, whether they are business people, potential UGA students, long-term residents, or indie-rockers.
I was very disheartened to learn of your experience which you described as disappointing and unwelcome. You are certainly correct in your assumptions about what services should be offered by the welcome center and how guests should be treated. I would like to think that your experience is the exception, not the rule. For the most part, the welcome center desk is staffed by trained volunteers, but we also employ one full-time staff person, myself, and two part-time employees. I have shared your letter with all of the employees and volunteers and stressed the obvious importance of being hospitable.
The Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau established the Hospitality HEROES program four years ago. This program is for the front-line employees in our local tourism industry, and it advocates exemplary service at all levels of the industry, restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, and especially the welcome center. Exceeding customer expectations is a tenet of our customer service creed. Even the very best miss the mark at some point, but we try to keep such occurrences to a minimum. Your letter has highlighted obvious failings on our part, and I assure you that we will begin immediately to redress those failings. As you noted, tourism is extremely important to our community and the welcome center plays a key role.
Again, I thank you for your comments and hope that you will visit the welcome center again. Since the positive visitor experience is the essence of our mission, we have set up a comment card system at the welcome center to give all visitors a chance to comment. We would also like to encourage all who read this to come to the Athens Welcome Center and share with us your thoughts on how to improve our facility as we strive to become the best welcome center in the state of Georgia. You’ll find me in the office behind the house and you are always welcome.
Ethiel Garlington Director, Athens Welcome CenterLetters
From You!
Regular Guy
originally published August 2, 2006
I may be the only white male Christian non-Democrat/ non-liberal/ non-pacifist/ non-hippie/ non-crybaby that reads your magazine, but doggone it, I just can’t put it down! You crazy kids really know how to stick it to us regular people, don’t you? Maybe I should rethink my position, grow a beard and a ponytail, wear sandals all the time, and protest everything! Name withheld so I don’t get demonstrated against.
Name Withheld AthensIn Re: Coulter, Reed
originally published August 2, 2006
In response to a couple of letters in this week’s [July 19] issue… to Dave Register: Yeah, I know he’s a COMEDIAN. I have most of his recorded material, including some great bootlegs. If you want to trade or something, look me up. Otherwise, let’s just say that I agree with you that Bill Hicks is a comedian where Ann Coulter is not, but at no point did I ever say Ann Coulter was funny. Also, why is it that Hicks championed originality while a group of his devotees like to try to copy his style? (“Vampire Eva Braun neocon wet dream” comes to mind.) Dave, this country would never go anywhere without a good argument, so thanks. Keep reading, writing, listening, etc.
To Matthew R. Collins: Ralph Reed didn’t win. Give me one good reason (other than state interference in church matters) to NOT let gays get married. Republicans are just as hypocritical as Democrats - they both slobbered over the USA Patriot Act while the Republicans were calling for less government. And quit listening to Limbaugh.
Kris Langley AthensThanks
originally published August 2, 2006
You’ve given me another reason to miss Athens. As if the music and ambience weren’t enough, a random reading of my old favorite publication leaves me even more wistful for my days as a student resident. Thanks for speaking out against the bipartisan politics of hate and fear.
Mudpup EmailWhat Manner Tofu?
originally published August 2, 2006
So I have read with great interest the growing Tofu Baby debate and I think that the time has come for far more drastic measures. Dreadful measures. Though on the surface this comic may appear innocuous, twee and sweet, it invades my very soul, hungry for raw, rancid meat, feeding lustily on my dreams and ambitions. I know I should like it… or at least, shouldn’t hate it. But I do. There, I admit it. I DO, I DO, I DO. (Weeps ashamedly.)
We should combat Tofu Baby with rigid and cruel totalitarianism. Arm bands with “Tofu Baby” X-ed out. Large amounts of flyers reading “Ban Tofu Baby.” Tofu humiliation. Open tofu mockery. Tofu mutilation. I mean we’re talking a few bucks, here, tops.
Of course, with every successful blow to the heart of Tofu Baby, I cannot help thinking that Tofu Baby will be there, ready to take all we can give it. Resilient. Courageous even. No matter how I stab at thee, Tofu Baby, you return that same gentle smile!
What manner of Tofu is this, that eats at mine own soul?
What Tofu is this, that feeds on my dreams?
Jeremy Smith Orange Beach, ALIf you are having problems with the site, or have questions or suggestions, please contact us here. Thanks!
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